The Juice - Nov. 21

The Wartburg College faculty voted Thursday to discontinue three academic majors: French and Francophone studies, peace and justice studies, and philosophy. All students currently in these major programs have been notified and will be able to continue on the already established path to degree completion. In addition, courses in these areas will continue to be taught, and minors in peace and justice studies and philosophy will continue to be offered. These program changes, which were recommended by the departments and supported by the college’s Educational Policies Committee, were put forward as the departments looked at the best way to align student interests and institutional resources. These changes will take effect in the Fall 2020 catalog. Faculty positions will not be eliminated because of this decision.

In the case of French and Francophone studies, which was suspended as a major and minor in 2016, no students will be affected. The department will continue to offer French language courses through FR206, if there is demand. While philosophy remains a foundation of the liberal arts education and an integral aspect of many other academic disciplines, there is currently only one student in the program. A small cohort of peace and justice majors and minors will graduate in May 2020, and another two students have recently enrolled in the program.